The CB Forum Staff Picks Christmas, And Likes It!

I'm somewhat of a holiday Grinch. The closest I come to a holiday tradition is my annual viewing of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, a film which is rarely acknowledged as the standard Christmas staple it should be. Last year, Will Ferrell won me over with Elf, so perhaps that too will end up on my yearly jingle bell watch list. Or perhaps when I'm feeling particularly bitter about the whole season I'll pop in Bad Santa. There's just something wonderfully appealing about a drunken, thieving, chubby chasing Santa. But what I think doesn't matter, I'm not much of a Rudolph lover. So when it comes to holiday classics, I'm asked the highly talented Cinema Blend Forum Staff to chime in. They responded with Christmas cheer. In fact, I think some of them are currently living in a manger. Here's what they think you should watch this Christmas:

Ian Crandall aka Wiggum
MODERATOR: The Leaky Pen
Pick: Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas

I have a couple treasured holiday memories from my youth. The most enduring is a friendship I shared with a class mate and a holiday ritual that we practiced for a few years. On December 23 we would sleep over at one of our houses, forcing the respective parents to let us sleep under the Christmas tree, with the lights on, surrounded by piles of presents.

Waking up on Christmas Eve we were always met with the unenviable task of trying to make the day pass as quickly as possible. Emmet Otter, while only occupying less than an hour of that time, was an absolute necessity. A true Christmas classic by Jim Henson and his immortal Muppets. Emmet Otter captures a holiday sensibility that is encapsulated by the fact that it's emphasis is on the idea that a true Christmas spirit can be captured by something as simple as a Christmas branch, the love and appreciation of family, and maybe, just maybe, having enough money to give the one you love something a little extra to mark the occasion.

It's a timeless film that affects me as much now, some twenty plus years later, as it did originally. It creates a true sense of the holiday and is able to engender memories that can last for a lifetime.

Christine
MODERATOR: Movie Trivia
Pick: Fantasia

Why: Fantasia offers soothing classical music selections combined with breathtaking animation, spanning from short abstract pieces to definite stories, sure to delight audiences of all ages. One of the musical pieces featured is Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite", a popular Holiday favorite, matched with artwork exploring the symphony of nature.

Fantasia is a good film to cozy up to watch on a cold winter's night or even to have playing Christmas morning while opening presents.

Matt Sinopoli aka Smizzle
MODERATOR: The Crib, Celebrity Stink
Pick: Love Actually

I don't really like Christmas movies that much. I used to like them when I was younger but there's only a certain amount of times a person can view Rudolf's Claymation Christmas Spectacular before they get sick of it. I guess that's partly the reason why my favorite Christmas movie isn't some timeless Christmas classic like most of the other guys are picking. Actually, it's not really a Christmas movie at all. Love Actually is a collection of interconnecting stories about, well, love. And not just the type of love you would expect from your average romantic comedy. That's what I liked most about the film—that it's about all different kinds of love. The love between a brother and sister, step-father and step-son, and two old friends being a few examples of the various types of relationships explored in the movie. The first time I saw Love Actually was last month so I don't have any warm favorite Christmas movie memories to share with you. All I can tell you is that it's a great movie, it takes place during Christmas, and you should definitely check it out!

Ashley Quigg aka Luthien Tinuviel
MODERATOR: The Boob Tube
Pick: A Muppet Christmas Carol

As a high school senior, I am moving up in the world. One thing that remains constant, however, is my love for the Muppets. Come on! Who doesn't love the Muppets?? I love A Muppet Christmas Carol not only for the reason mentioned above, but also because it captures the true spirit of Christmas, brings a classic tale to life in a unique way, and at the same time manages to still be funny. Not to mention that the songs are actually good, and make you want to sing along. It was a huge thing when I was growing up. My sisters and I actually sit down together to watch it. (Without fighting! Can you believe it?) I simply adore MCC because of the spirit of childhood that it brings to Christmas.

Heather aka Arctic
MODERATOR: The Leaky Pen
Pick: Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

I have memories of my older brother singing "There's Always Tomorrow" using the voice of Clarice from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. But Christmas is more than realizing your worth despite your faults.

I once wrote a review of It's a Wonderful Life that got me into college as a philosophy major. But Christmas to me is more than realizing the influence you have on other people's lives.

Scrooged is probably my second favorite Bill Murray movie and my favorite Christmas Carol retelling. But Christmas is more than second chances.

Christmas Vacation contends yearly with It's a Wonderful Life for most re-watched Christmas movie in my house. But Christmas to me is more than family antics.

Most of all Christmas is about charity and love. Not just any love, actually, but selfless love. No other story shows this better, i.m.o., than that of the Grinch, who tried to steal Christmas, but found he couldn't because Christmas can't be stolen; it can only be given, be it through a smile, happiness, or hugs.

So here's to the immortal genius of Dr. Seuss, who showed the world, or at least me, what Christmas is.

B.D. aka bluntchop
MODERATOR: DVD Blend
Pick: Reindeer Games (Director's Cut)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup solid acting
1/2 cup finely chopped mystery plot
1/4 pound smoking action
1/2 teaspoon sizzling sex
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black humor
1/2 cup fried, sliced and diced Santas
2/3 cups of snow
2 large surprise endings, beaten to blend
Melt solid acting in a large skillet. Add mystery plot. Cook until you sweat. Add action, sizzling sex and black humor. Mix well. Combine mixture with fried, sliced and diced Santas and snow. Add the 2 large surprise endings and drizzle with blood. Tasty but underrated Holiday dish, a bit on the spicy side but great fun nonetheless.

Matt Norris aka Matt UGA
Cinema Blend Forum Administrator
Pick: It's A Wonderful Life

While It's a Wonderful Life is probably the most hyped of all Christmas movies, I think it deserves every bit of it. My parents would force me to watch Life as a child at least once a year. After a few years, they didn't have to force me to watch "the black and white" movie. At some point, I began to love this holiday classic. Who doesn't love the dance contest over the swimming pool? Who doesn't want to punch Old Man Potter in the face? Jimmy Stewart became my favorite actor by the age of 11. I still haven't found anyone to replace him.

Now as an adult and a father of two small children, I told my oldest daughter to watch It's a Wonderful Life with me last year. She began to complain at first but after about twenty minutes, even my 5 yr old knew she was watching something special.

I have watched Life over 50 times in my 30 years on this planet and I still tear up as the townspeople rally behind George Bailey and help him realize what an impact he had on the entire town. I hope Frank Capra and the cast of It's a Wonderful Life realized the impact they have had on the world.

Brian Cleveland aka Trip
MODERATOR: The Boob Tube, CB Saloon
Pick: Home Alone I and II

All of these classics that everyone else has been raving about, and rightfully so, are great, but they're not what I grew up with. One of the earliest Christmas movies I remember seeing was Home Alone and it's sequel. Culkin may not be much of an actor in the two movies, but Catherine O'Hara, Joe Pesci, etc... certainly make-up for it. The movies blend wonderful holiday spirit with "tragedy", comedy and "Jackass" style pranks before they were cool. They may not be half century old classics, but they are still two of my favorite movies from when I was a child and still now.

Bill Beyrer aka Bordick
MODERATOR: CB Main, Celebrity Stink
Pick: Die Hard

'Twas the Night before Christmas, in the heart of L.A.,
And John McClane exclaimed Yippy Kay Yay.
It was Hans Gruber and friends all set for a caper,
Taking hostage to all in that silver skyscraper.

What did John do to get into this mess?
He came from New York just to spend Christmas.
John struggles, and fights, and beats all his foes,
All the while remembering to make fists with his toes.

He blows up the roof, and part of the bottom.
Some he killed cleverly, some he just shot 'em.
Elevator shafts and ventilation ducts,
He must crawl through them all, to get away from these f**ks.

Then came the final confrontation with Hans,
With 2 bullets left he must be cool like “The Fonz”.
Gruber's last crony dropped at the top of a hat,
While Hans himself dangled, and soon went ker-splat.

John and his wife were originally not on good terms,
Then at the end the movie they are swapping their germs.
The two reconciled, that's all there is to be said,
Whoa, Holy s**t, that blonde dude ain't dead!

So that is the story of the McClane Christmas Eve,
With the Nakatomi Corporation left to bereave.
Thus my friends, credits are in sight.
Happy Trails to all, and to all a good night

Rafe Telsch
MODERATOR: The Welcome Wagon
Pick: A Christmas Story

While several of my more favorite holiday films have been mentioned by others, A Christmas Story seems to be an overlooked favorite. It's a movie that reminds me of what it was like to enjoy Christmas as a child, where the reason for the holiday was mostly about the presents, and the struggle to get that perfect important gift each year. Every year I enjoy A Christmas Story as Ralphie's quest for the Red Ryder BB Gun reminds me of my youth and my desire for gifts ranging from the Ewok Village playset to a (original) Nintendo Entertainment System.

Stuart Wood
Cinema Blend Forum Administrator
Pick: Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)

This is probably my Ewok Adventures, truth be told. A movie that I remember loving that, if I saw again today, I would probably cringe at. But seeing as we're recalling this from my memory and not a recent viewing I am going to choose it. Truth be told SC:TM it is a bit of an oddity. It's a film of two halves. The first half of the movie tells the story of how a generous old man in a time long ago brought scruffy unwashed children the equivalent of McFarlane models for Christmas, only without the fine detail, points of articulation or even a proper paint job.

Somehow, I forget exactly how, he ends up in the north pole and encounters the elves who inform him that they have been waiting for him like some strange fat, jolly messiah and it is now his job to take residence at their brightly painted toy factory and take on the task of bringing toys to every scruffy unwashed child in the world not just his neighbors. And so he does, and with a sprinkling of Acme Magical Reindeer Flying Dust, he's donning a red suit and taking to they skies like Superman after too many burritos.

It's the second half of the movie where things go totally off-the-wall and finds Santa battling an atypically 80s "giant corporation" run by John Lithgow in fine hamming form. With the aid of a shamed, self-exiled elf (played by Dudley Moore) they are destroying the spirit of Christmas and are about to poison the world's children with candy canes imbibed with the Acme Magic Reindeer Flying Dust... or something along those lines... I kid you not.

But as with all things, the big fat man saves the day and all is well.

While Santa Clause: The Movie might be as cheesy, clunky and a little bit too sappy, for someone who was just a kid when it first came out, it'll be essential TV viewing if it appears on the schedules this year.

Incidentally, my only problem with this movie as a kid, and I remember this well from the first time seeing it when I was about 5, was; where was Rudolf?

Thanks guys! You all deserve a raise... or perhaps first we should start by giving you some sort of initial compensation which I can raise you from. Hmm. How about some Cinema Blend Mugs... the ultimate christmas gift for the discerning shopper! Happy something or other to everyone! Drop by the CB Forum to show some appreciation for the hard working, under appreciated CB Forum crew!

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